I strive to become the most interesting photographer alive!
Category: Posts
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APP MINIMALISM
As few apps as humanly possible!
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DEPRIVATION
Some deprivation is good for us!
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OPTIMAL HOLDS YOU BACK!
Achieving my dream of dead, lifting five plates; I did it in the most adoptable of conditions, jetlagged, while in Phnom Penh Cambodia. Also with foreign equipment in a foreign gym. And I used liquid chalk instead of normal chalk. Yet I was still able to do it.
Therefore, my interventional thought:
Perhaps, when we are always striving towards the optimal conditions, we achieve less.
That, instead of striving for the optimal conditions, just follow your gut. If you’re feeling gutsy enough to attempt it, just give it your all.
Heuristics and general rules of thumb in life are cognitively useful, but they also hold us back. For example, instead of attempting a one rep max just once a week, maybe you could try it in less than that. For example, maybe you only need six days to recover, or five days to recover, or four days or three days or even two days. Or even one day. You never know.
Optimal is never!
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PEAK FURTHER!
It doesn’t really matter how strong you are — what matters the most is whether or not you are at peak strength, and that your peak strength is continually rising. That you’re on top of your game!
Or another words, always stay at your peak, regardless of where you are.
And when you have already reached your peak, keep peaking further!
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PHNOM PENH VLOGS II
Phnom Penh is epic:
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Self Leverage
The goal is to intelligently identify your greatest strengths, and focus on intelligently leveraging yourself to the maximum!
Technology is not just digits and computers, technology is a tool of leverage! Technology can also be technique!
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HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR GROWTH
If you desire growth, and to maximize your growth, you must nap and sleep more! My ideal is to sleep 12 hours a night like my son!
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LET YOUR BODY RECOVER
Not passive “recoveryâ€â€” the recovery state is an active one— perhaps even more active than when you’re being “activeâ€.
Even as you sleep or nap, you’re still moving the world!
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DIGITAL DESIGN
Perhaps we should get rid of antiquated notions of print design from the past. And instead, start carte blanche with digital; digital design.
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FLOW & DANGER
In order to get into a flow state, you need a certain level of danger.
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WHAT DO YOU DESIRE?
For me, greater feelings of power, and overpower.
Greater physiological strength, greater stronger feelings of hope and optimism, and also physiological discharges of power (hypelifting).
Also, greater consumption of meat. I wish I could eat 5 pounds of meat in one sitting.
Then, my ultimate goal is greater physical strength, to indefinitely increase my one rep maxes for my lifts, and also, to indefinitely augment my muscles and demigod body.
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HOW TO STAND OUT
In today’s world, a big key to success is standing out. How does one do this?
The first thought is adopt a color scheme, or a color, palette, which is unusual, and sticks out. For example, the vibrant blood Crimson red I adopt on this blog.
Another idea is go off script. Do things differently than the way others do it.
Third, act unexpectedly. Don’t follow formalities. In some ways, to act more “Asperger’s†is good.
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Why Doesn’t Japanese Design Age Well?
I love traditional Japanese wabi-sabi design, hate their modern design.
For example, I have never seen or witnessed a Japanese car, that ages well. Also, when it comes to their technology, like their phones, and other devices, they age poorly.
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PHOTO FREE FLOW
Share your photos before they are ready:
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COMPUTER VISION X HUMAN VISION
Creating a â€creative centaurâ€â€” a hybrid of both computer AND human vision.
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WORKFLOWS OF THE FUTURE
FUTURE WORKFLOWS
It seems that the current creative workflow is too basic; too much focus on curating a single image, and uploading it to social media for likes, and the promise of new followers. What we must do instead is strive to innovate a new workflow; more self hosted, open source, focus on PDFs and files, and shareable links.
More things self hosted on your own server. Self hosted email newsletter services (sendy.co), self hosted websites and blogs, wordpress.org, and file sharing services.
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MOBILE IS THE FUTURE.
Being here in Phnom Penh, the greatest adoption of technology is mobile phones. Even the poor can afford a smartphone, and 4G internet.
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INSANELY FAST.
I love insanely fast! Importing photos on iPad Pro M1 with USB-C SD CARD READER — my extreme joy how insanely fast the importing process is!
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VLOG: TIME LEVERAGE
PODCAST
TIME LEVERAGE VLOG The secret to extracting the most out of life:
VIDEO FILE
Time leverage VLOG Read more: TIME LEVERAGE.
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ONLY THE WEAK CRITICIZE , CRITIQUE, OR COMPLAIN.
The strong admire, aspire towards, or do something about it.
For example, everyone is always complaining about how China is stealing everything. Yet, they don’t understand that what the Chinese lack is ingenuity. And also, America and the west is too caught up over copyright; copyright is an unnatural thing. Consider how in the animal kingdom, all animals who seek ascendancy will copy, cheat, lie, and steal and rob from one another.
Therefore, instead of criticizing, critiquing, or complaining about things or others, best to simply change the variables.
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SPEED OVER QUALITY.
To do things quickly as a superior mode of doing things, than striving for perfection“ quality. Speed is better time leverage.
Or like Mark Zuckerberg used to say with Facebook, “Move quickly and break stuff!â€
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IT IS ALL GOOD.
In photography, it is all good. No need to exclude certain types of subject matter or places.
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Happiness or Productivity?
I do not believe life’s goal is happiness. Why not? Then what is the difference between us great human beings, and happy cows?
Perhaps, we should choose productivity over happiness?
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BE IN THE EPI-CENTER
Another reason why trap bar deadlifts makes much more sense; you are in the epicenter of the weight, with a maximum amount of leverage and force.
Also, why it is often useful to live in the capital city of a country. Like why I love Phnom Penh— living in a hotel in the extreme downtown, with the most vibrancy, excitement, and street life!
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TIME LEVERAGE.
LEVERAGE YOUR TIME — this is key.
Your time in life is limited. Therefore, it seems in order to get the maximum out of existence, the goal is to best leverage your time, as wisely as possible.
For example, as much as I love going to the gym, it still seems the wisest mode of action it’s only go once a week, and just attempt my maximum lift, once a week. Then, all the other spare time I can have is to leverage my more unique abilities — the time to go through my photos, the opportunity to write, publish, share, vlog, etc.
Therefore, I don’t think we should be thinking about “being time efficient“, or even being “effective“. Time leverage is a more useful concept.
Even having technology with faster processors, which allows us to do more and less time. This is simply time leverage. Or being able to Uber everywhere instead of having to drive yourself, find parking, waste time, etc.
Therefore, it seems that the wisest and the best entrepreneur is he who is best able to leverage his or her time, the most intelligently.
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ALL-DAY HYPE
I only desire to be hyped up all day!
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WHY I LOVE THE GYM
The gym as my own personal zen temple:
Also like an adult playground.
The gym as perhaps one of the most virtuous places to go:
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JUST VLOG IT ALL!
I recommend just using a GoPro (ultra wide mode), 24fps– 720p is sufficient!
Your perspective is good:
ERIC KIM FOOD VLOG: INDIAN FOOD (NAMASTE INDIA) PHNOM PENH CAMBODIA GOPRO POV
Also another pro tip:
Take your vlog videos, and screenshot them!
Double-dipping creativity:
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Why Americans should invest in Cambodia
Cambodia pretty much accepts US dollars everywhere. All of their products, services, food, and stuff is written in both in their local currency, and in US dollars.
Also, Cambodia is pretty much bilingual in English. Everyone here speaks some degree of English. They also love YouTube, Facebook messenger.
I also see a lot of Ford trucks here, a lot of F150 raptor’s.
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Chinese vs American Design
The Chinese are very good at copying and brute force, but they’re not good with aesthetics and creating things with sex appeal (American innovation).
Asians are good at following directions and being subservient, but Americans care more for individuality and uniqueness. There is still a reason why rich Chinese still prefer Apple and iPhone 10000x more than Huawei or any Chinese technology brand.
American innovation, Chinese production.
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Why uneven surfaces are ironically safer
when surfaces are uneven, you pay more attention. Whereas, if surfaces are flat, you become overconfident, and ignore potential potholes.
Or perhaps, superficially more dangerous stuff is actually safer.
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PHYSICS THINKING
The good thing about physics thinking is that, besides the rules of physics, almost anything, and everything is possible.
for example, Elon musk, having the vision of creating the grasshopper rocket, something that was very possible from the physics perspective, but a lot of people did not believe that it was achievable.
Then, almost anything is possible. The better question is how badly you desire to strive towards it.
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LABOR DIFFERENCES
The difference between labor in Asia and America; Asians do not believe in “workers rights“ for cheap labor. Nor do they care for safety.
In America, it looks like the bulk of the cheap labor come from Mexico. For Americans, who partake in cheap labor, tend to be lazy and entitled.
Also, too many regulations in America, means that things get built slower. Compare this with Asia, where there is more overt under the table dealings, which allows for greater speed and productivity.
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Ignore, or 100% Focused Attention
A simple way to barbell your attention: with other people, either give them 100% of your undivided attention (no phone) or 100% ignore them.
Maybe this is even a better way to interact with your kids, or parenting. Either 100% ignore them, and let them do their own thing, or if you’re actually playing with them or engaging with them, put away all your devices and give them 100% of your undivided attention.
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Nobody Needs Your “Helpâ€
Perhaps the best way to leverage yourself is to know and realize that nobody “needs your helpâ€. Towards a more non-interventionalist approach. Also, this is the best way for you to conserve your physiological energy, to maximize your own leverage of yourself.
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HYPELIFTING
My new notion of “hypeliftingâ€, which is essentially hyping yourself up, and attempting a very very heavy weight. Something that you are not certain whether you can do or not.
Failure is not even a concept. Because it doesn’t really matter whether you succeed or not, rather, your degree of courage and manliness comes from how much you attempt, without fear.
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EXCEED YOURSELF.
Exceed yourself, exceed your own preconceived notions of what your “limits“ are.
For example, mental blocks. When I’m back home in the states, I think I often get psyched out or intimidated by the traditional red 45 pound plates. When I am abroad, where everything is in kilograms, things seem a bit foreign, carte blanche, and uncertain in a good way. Funny enough, because I don’t really understand how to convert things into kilograms, and don’t have a certain sense of how heavy the weights are, actually end up being able to attempt more, and lift more heavier weights. And this is a huge way I’ve been able to level up my strength.
Therefore my first interventionalist thought:
We often limit ourselves, because we put certain mental blocks on ourselves.
Being prudent is for suckers
Another thought, or some thing I’ve learned from powerlifting (I call it â€hypeliftingâ€), it is better to do bigger jumps in weight, than to be a “prudentâ€.
For example, a technique or a mode of doing things which I got stuck in back in the states is the notion that when powerlifting, one should be prudent and jump in weight steadily, starting with a 25 pound plate, and then jumping up to the 45 pound plates. For example, if you’re warming up with squats, starting with warming up with just the bar, then adding a 25 pound plate on one side, then taking off the 25 pound plate and putting on a 45 pound plate, then stacking on another 25 pound plate on top of the 45 pound plate, etc.
However, I personally discovered that in spending too much time warming up, and doing too many repetitions or lifts, I lose or drain my hype energy. Therefore, better to do as few repetitions as possible, in order to preserve my energy for the heaviest weight I will attempt. For example, with deadlift, starting with one plate on each side, then stacking on another plate, then stacking on another plate, until I get up to five plates.
Numbers are mental blocks
Maybe this is where numbers, and goals, and limits are bad. For example, we often psych ourselves up with round numbers.
For example, my personal goal of obtaining 10 bitcoin. Why is it that we set goals for ourselves, in round and even numbers? Maybe a better goal is to just indefinitely get more.
Or with money— the goal of $200,000 a year.
Or with men and weight, striving to obtain a certain body weight?
Or with powerlifting, we use the plate concepts to set certain goals. For example, a two plate benchpress, a four or five plate deadlift, or a four and five plate squat. Or a 500 pound that lift, which is hilarious, because it is a 5 plate and 2 1/2 pound potato chip on each side.
Or with social media, first striving to get 1000 followers, then 5000 followers, then 10,000 followers, then 100,000 followers, etc.
Then, maybe a better way to approach things is to just set an insanely high audacious goal for yourself, and steadily truck towards that. For example, I like that idea that before I die, I could do at least a 700 pound deadlift, a 600 pound squat, and a 400 pound (floor) benchpress. Or a even more robust way of doing things is to not even care about the number, but, to just keep testing your limit, and play around your limit, without fear.
For example, I am currently here in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and because I have no idea of kilograms, I test my strength. I just try a random heavy weight, and if I cannot lift it
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CHOOSE THE SIMPLER DESIGN.
The simpler design is often the superior design.
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YOU’RE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK.
Discover and test your limits, then strive to go beyond them!
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Phnom Pen is My New Paradise!
The best gym I’ve been to in my life!! Monkifit Gym
061 991 818
https://goo.gl/maps/66hhtQ9UMCLEGkhWA -
DON’T BE FOOLISH
As a heuristic, better to be led by the principle; “don’t be foolish†than the positive one, which is “be wise“.
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WHO IS TALLER?
Tallness as a desired thing. Tallness in human beings, and also tallness in buildings. Skyscrapers and hotels and condos.
Also, tallness for our cars and vehicles; the reason why people like SUVs, is that if you’re taller and more superior on the road.
Also, with the “overlanding†trend, the trend is to lift your vehicle, and make your car as tall as possible, instead of as low to the ground as possible (sports and hyper cars).
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Progressive Overload, and Hyper Compensation.
How is it that we become stronger? Progressive overload. That means, at the week level, you always add a little bit of difficulty or weight, and in the long run, your body learns to overcompensate, and thus becoming stronger.
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YOU BECOME THE SUV
You yourself become the sports utility vehicle. Strong legs, stout body.
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Walking, or being able to walk is the ultimate privilege
Also, one of the best ways to conquer Jet Lag is during the day just drink lots of black coffee, and walk around as much outdoors as possible. Ideally the direct Sun.
Also, I get power from the sun!
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The Philosophy of Traveling
Why travel? Towards what ends?
Why I’m happier when I’m traveling or on the road
For me, I prefer to travel and be on the road. Why? The irony —
Things are LESS certain and normal.
For me, this awakens my inner-genius. I innovate and do things new.
For example, wanting to workout. I found a local gym here in Phnom Penh and the entry was only $3USD for a day pass! And, the weights were not like back home — it required me to jump quicker than I usually do. For example, instead of increments of 25-pounds and 45-pounds, I just went straight up plate by plate (20kg plates). This is the road for me to (finally) deadlift my dream — 5 plates!
Once again, if I were back home, my technique is limited via the same old way I typically do things. Traveling, being on the road, or being abroad (foreign, non-home) gives you the opportunity (through necessity) to innovate.
America is boring
Something else I learned:
Life in America is boring.
Life abroad in places like Asia are far more fascinating, dynamic, and fun!
For example in America, you’re essentially trapped in a car all day, or stuck in suburban archipelagos. Even SF or NYC — you’re stuck in the subway, an Uber, etc.
Asia, like being here in Phnom Penh — so much more fun and dynamic! The people are more open, friendly, curious and engaging. Americans tend too shy, or often stand-offish.
If I had the option, I’d prefer to live long-term in Phnom Penh Cambodia over anywhere in the states.
What do you want from life?
For me, my personal interest:
To live a maximally fun, dynamic, and interesting life.
Also to maximize my ability for turbo thoughts.
Being abroad allows me to do this.
For example, being able to firsthandedly witness the Chinese influence here is very interesting from a global capitalism perspective. And it isn’t scary — my thoughts:
Globalism isn’t going to be about war, it will just be all about wealth-accumulation and capital-accumulation of all rich oligarchs and individuals.
No way I could have had this thought if I were back stateside.
And another thing:
You must witness it first handedly.
Even the closest thing I can personally do to share my experiences is a GoPro ultra wide lens, but to witness it first hand — your mind will be blown. Mine was.
Expanding your mind
Close minded vs open minded. Which do you prefer?
I prefer being open minded.
Why be open minded? You make your mind more powerful. To close your mind actually limits you in a bad way.
Assuming we want to become wiser, more intelligent, and more powerful, opening your mind is the way.
By traveling and experiencing new places can only open your mind.
Digital nomad?
It seems the new millennial thing is the whole “digital nomad†thing. But after COVID, this dream has died down a bit.
However, for me, the ideal I have is having the ability to live freely. To not be restricted. Not being restricted by a house, a home, a car, insurance, consumerism (Amazon prime) and all these other things which hold us down.
I was with Seneca this morning at our hotel, and looking outside, seeing some pigeons and doves hanging out and thinking:
Being able to be as free, and live as freely as a bird.
So what now?
I would encourage you then to travel or live abroad as much as you can, given your life situation.
Everyone is different, but know —
You have more choice and power in your life than you think you do!
ERIC
TRAVEL MORE
Hungry for adventure? Embark on an epic ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE:
- September 30-October 2nd: DISCOVER YOUR SEOUL: ERIC KIM SEOUL SOUTH KOREA STREET PHOTOGRAPHY TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
- November 5th: DOWNTOWN LA MINIMALISM WORKSHOP (New!)
- November 12th: VANCOUVER STREET PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE (New!)
TRAVEL NOTES
Travel Notes Mobile edition — open access.
Discover more — AMAZON HAPTIC PRIME
Life Updates in Cambodia
More fresh stuff on the blog!
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